England are back

The World Cup was such a horror show for England that this Championship was always going to be their Hunger Games.

Redemption, self-respect, call it what you will, England were on its trail from minute one of their first game. Five matches on they have a Grand Slam, only the 13th ever won by this country. In the contest of what went before it ranks as an extraordinary achievement.

How Chris Robshaw in particular should enjoy this moment. Painted as the World Cup fall guy, the former captain has been excellent throughout. Fabulous show of character.

Eddie Jones merits the big bucks

Cult of personality: Jones has moulded the team his way (Image: Action Images via Reuters / Henry Browne)

When England sacked Stuart Lancaster they vowed to scour the world and spare no expense to find the right man to turn the nation’s fortunes around.

Enter Eddie Jones on the biggest contract in world rugby. Since Day One the Australian has led England by the force of his personality. He has taken a group of battered and bruised rugby egos and rebuilt their belief. It has been a masterful performance and money well spent.

Jones told them to believe and gave them the tools with which to do so. Credit also to defence coach Paul Gustard - England have conceded just four tries in this tournament - and to forwards coach Steve Borthwick - the set-piece has been rock solid.

Dan Cole was hungry

Try two: Dan Cole goes over (Image: Getty)

The Leicester prop was the only England player to have started both the Grand Slam defeats of 2011 and 2013. He felt the full force of the hurt in Dublin and then in Cardiff two years later.

So you knew he would be hungry for some form of revenge tonight. Sure enough, 21 minutes in, he helped himself to the try that gave England their first sniff of glory (even if an offside Mako Vunipola mean it should not have been given).

It would be wrong to say it came as no surprise. Why? Well this was his 61st England cap and only his second try.

Before this, you had to go back six years to a loss to Ireland on only his third Red Rose appearance e for his last score.

Anthony Watson is a natural try scorer

He doesn’t say much, in fact I can’t remember quoting him once in this entire championship. But Bath youngster Anthony Watson certainly knows where the try line is.

Last year he quietly amassed eight tries in 11 matches, a return which would have pleased the best All Blacks wingers (well, maybe not Julian Savea).

And tonight he crossed for the third successive game, adding to his scores against Ireland and Wales. His try was perhaps the key moment of the match, given that France had pegged the deficit back to two points.

In all he now has 11 tries in 20 Tests. Oh, and a Grand Slam and a (junior) World Cup.

Not too shabby for a 22-year-old.

France would be dangerous if they had a gameplan

Impressive: Machenaud was in outstanding form throughout for France (Image: Getty)

France have been bad for so long that we have come to take it for granted. Since their Grand Slam in 2010 they have only once finished in the top half of the table.

Yet they have some talented players - captain Guilhem Guirado, Wesley Fofana, Gael Fickou, Virimi Vakatawa, ace goal kicker Maxime Machenaud and more besides - and on latent ability they were at least the equal of England. But there was no pattern to their play, no discernible game plan.

It was all ad hoc, on the hoof decision making, and consequently their success was measured by the boot of Machenaud rather than try-scoring flair for which the nation is renowned. Or at least was.

How England rated

Mike Brown - Epitomised England’s belligerence, snarling when not on the ball, running through walls when in possession. Has long set the tone for this group of players. 8

Anthony Watson - His third try of the championship, his 11th in 20 Tests. England’s silent assassin. And still only 22. 8

Jonathan Joseph - Another game in which he linked play rather than finished moves. Do you think he will mind about that now? Nah. 7